Hi;
Thank you very much for this forum, which gives so much hope to all of us who have to deal with HIV daily

I have been positive for 18 years, on meds only since 1997. 1997-1999 Combo of AZT and Hivid, from 1999 to 2000 Combo of Zerit, Videx, and Nelfinavir. I noticed then the loss of fat in my legs and the thinning of my face, so I switched to Abacavir, Sustiva, and Videx. I gained some weight and people who do not know about my condition tell me that I look much more "rested", so I assume that I have recovered some fat in my face I lost (though it was never very prominent), although the veins in my legs are quite visible still.

They did a DEXA for the first time last August. My doctor tells me that she cannot diagnosis me with lipodystrophy because it falls within the normal range, and no baseline numbres are available. She can see that my legs have less fat that normal, but that is not enough to put the label "lipodystrophy". Is there any way to gain fat in my legs?

Just wanted to add that I am a 35 year old male, who regularly works out and who stopped smoking two months ago.

PS: My others numbers are pretty good CD4 24 684 Viral load undetectable under 20 copies. Sometimes cholesterol a bit under the normal, but just a bit.

All my love to all of you

Response from Ms. Fields-Gardner

There has been some encouraging information on medication switches (see link to summary below), but it takes some time to realize the results of improved subcutaneous fat. You have also reduced another risk factor for lipoatrophy by quitting smoking.

To add fat back to the legs is a tough question under investigation by many researchers (see a summary of research reported earlier this year through the second link below). One of the treatments (aside from switches) that was under investigation was the oral antidiabetic medication rosiglitazone. While the researchers did not show significant changes, others have suggested it is worth pursuing lengthier studies to better determine the effect. Keep your ears to the ground as more research is reported over the next year to look at the possibilities.

This forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not rendering medical, mental health, legal or other professional advice or services. If you have or suspect you may have a medical, mental health, legal or other problem that requires advice, consult your own caregiver, attorney or other qualified professional.

Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither TheBody.com nor any advertiser is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.